Running-gear.



No. 640,979. Patented 1an. 9, |900.

' E. T. wAnE.

RUNNING GEAR.

(Application led Ocvt. 30, 1899.)

Edwin Z' Wide,

(No Model.)

rr Orrin..

EDWIN T. WADE, OF OLARKSDALE, MISSISSIPPI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO L. B. IVILKINSON, OF DUNCAN, MISSISSIPPI.

RUNNING-GEAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part f Letters Patent No. 640,979, dated January 9, 1900.

Application filed October 30, l 8 9 9.

` running-gear.

ed in accordance with this invention.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of running-gear for vehicles and to provide one which will be simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction and which will be exceedinglylight and at the same time possess the necessary strength and durability.

The invention` consists `in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claimshereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a running-gear construct- Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of one end of one of the axles, illustrating the construction of the removable spindles.- Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view illustrating the manner of coupling the reach to the front axle. Fig. et is a detail perspective view of the central coup- -ling of the front axle. Fig. 5 is a similar view of one of the hollow blocks or sleeves forsupporting the front hounds.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

l and 2 designate parallel tubes arranged transversely of the front portion of the running-gear, with the tube ldirectlyabove the tube 2 and forming the body portion of the front axle. The horizontal tubes 1 and2 are connected at their terminals by end blocks or bars 3, at the center by a coupling 4, and at intermediate points by hollow blocks or sleeves 5, converging forwardly and provided with rectangular longitudinal openings 6, adapted for the reception of the front hounds of the running-gear. The endblocks or connections 3 are provided with upper and lower openings 7 and 8, receiving the terminals of the tubes, and the lower tube 2 has its ends 9 Serial No. 735,306. (No model.)

interiorly threaded and adapted to receive threaded Shanks 10 of removable spindles 11. The ends of the tubes 1 and 2 may be secured within the upper and lower openings 7 and 8 55 of the end blocks or connections by any suitable means.

The hollow blocks'or sleeves 5, which are set at an angle to agree with the angle of the hounds, (not shown,) are provided with up- 6o per and lower transverse enlargements 12, having openings for the reception of the up` per and lower tubes, which are firmly snpported and braced by the hollow blocks or sleeves, which are provided at their ends with l perforations 13forthe reception ofbolts or i other suitable fastening devices for securing the hounds to them, but a tongue or pole may be coupled to them` by any other suitable means, as will be readily understood. 7o

The central coupling consists of a substantially U -shaped central portion 14C and upper and lower arms or portions 15 and 16, projecting from the U-shaped portion, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the accompanying draw- 75 ings, and provided with transverse openings for the reception of the upperand lowcrtubes.V The central U-shaped portion 14 is disposed horizontally and opens rearwardly to receive the front end of the reach 17 of the running- 8o gear, and it is provided with a vertical perforation 18 for the reception of a bolt 19, which pivots the reach in the said U-shaped portion llt. The U-shaped portion 14, which is open at the sides, permits the front axle to swing or turn on the front end of the reach. The upper arm or portion 15 of the central coupling has a rectangular upper bearingface, and it is provided with a central pivot 20, which extends into an opening of the bol- 9o ster 2l, whereby the front axle is pivotally connected with the body of the vehicle. The bolster is provided at its ends with standards 22 and is adapted to support an ordinary wagon-body; but it will be readily apparent that the improvements are applicable to carriages and analogous vehicles.

AThe spindles l1, which are preferably constructed of solid steel, have the threaded Shanks 10 at their inner ends and are provided roc with polygonal collars or flanges 23, located at the innerends of the Shanks l0 and adapted those at the other side will be left-hand threads, so that the forward rotation of the wheels will not operate to unscrew the spindles or the axle-nuts, as will be readily understood. The end blocks are provided with threaded apertures for the reception of clamping-screws 24, arranged to engage the threaded Shanks l0; but instead of arranging the clamping-screws at the front of the axle, as shown, they may be located at any other point and may also be threaded directly into the lower tube. p

The rear axle, which is constructed substantially the same as the front axle, is composed of upper and lower tubes 25 and 26, the lower tube forming the body portion of the axle and the upper tube constituting a bolster, and the end blocks or connections 27 are provided with vertical extensions 28,formingstandards, as will be readily seen from Figi of the accompanying drawings. The intermediate blocks 29 are provided with upper and lower openings for the reception of the tubes and have forwardl y-proj ectin g perforated ears 30,arran ged in Fig. l, and adjustably secured to the same by aV bolt or pin 34, passing through a perforation of thesleeve or plate and adapted to engage any one of a series of perforations of the reach. Ihe rear portion of the reach passes through a central block or connection 35, having a central opening 36 to receive the said reach and provided with upper and lower transverse openings for the reception of the upper and lower tubes. The rear axle is provided with removable spindles 36, constructed similar to those heretofore described and secured by clamping-screws 37, which prevent the spindles from accidentally unscrewing.

It will be seen that the running-gear is simple and comparatively inexpensive, that it is light, strong and durable, and that it is applicable to all kinds of wagons, carriages, and analogous vehicles.

What is claimed is l. In a device of the class described, the combination of a central. coupling consisting of a central substantially U-shaped portion, and upper and lower arms, the upper arm being provided with a vertical pivot, the upper and lower tubes or rods extending through openings of the said arms, and a reach pivoted in the central U-shaped portion of the coupling, substantially as described.

2. In adevice ofthe class described, a coupling consisting of a central substantially U- shaped portion, adapted to receive the front end of the reach and open at its sides, and the upper and lower arms having transverse openings the upper arm being provided with a vertical pivot, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of the upper and lower tubes or rods, and the converging hollow blocks or sleeves provided with upper and lower transverse openings receiving the tube's or rods, said blocks or sleeves being provided with longitudinal openings for the reception of hounds, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of upper and lower rods or tubes, the converging blocks or sleeves having` central longitudinal openings and provided with upper and lower transverse openings receivl ving the rods or tubes, the central coupling having upper and lower openings to receive the rods or tubes and provided with a central horizontal substantially U- shaped portion arranged opposite the space between the upper and lower tubes, and a reach pivoted within the U shapedportion ot'r the coupling, substantially as described.

5. In vaA device of the, class described, the combination of the upper `and lower tubes, the end blocks or connections secured to the tubes, the removable spindles fitted in the lower tube, the central coupling connecting the upper and lower tubes and provided with an intermediate U-shaped portion arranged to receive the reach, and the hollow blocks or sleeves connecting the tubes at opposite sides of the coupling, substantially as described.

6. In a device'of the class described, the combination of upper and lower tubes or rods, and the end blocks or connections secured to the tubes or rods and provided with vertical extensions forming standards, substantially as described.

7. Adevice of the class described comprising upper and lower tubes or rods, end blocks or connections secured to the rods provided with vertical extensions forming standards, the intermediate blocks connecting the rods or tubes and provided with ears for the reception of the rear hounds, and a central block having upper and lower transverse openings to receive the rods or tubes and provided with a central opening for the reception of the reach, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afxed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN T. WADE.

Witnesses:

J. I-I. PHIFER, R. E. TAYLOR. 

